Until the official release, this was an obscure show and a hidden gem. We only had a super-speedy AUD, until a FOB in 2008, and now the box set. Given that just a thousand or so tix were sold, it's amazing there were ANY tapers. People in the Omaha/Des Moines region didn't do Dead shows in '78 apparently - especially when they had just played down the road in KC (plus it was summer, so no kids from Lincoln). They had drawn better in '73, and after this only played as close as Des Moines. Though the 8th has the best set, this is the best overall show of the tour (in a different way than 7/1). The middle of both sets have big peaks and the Second Set is longish.

First Set. You have to go to the AUDs for the 1st minute of Sugaree. Who knows why the hell GDP didn't patch the official SBD, as they've done before. Maybe they were indifferent because the vox are missing until the 1st chorus. Otherwise it starts average, but Bobby's Slide Practice™ is kind of jarring, and then it kind of punts. Beat it on Down the Line-12 (maybe the month plus date?) has feedback screech that's less prominent on the AUDs. It sounds like a '74. The show then takes off with a grand They Love Each Other - maybe as good as 5/10. There's a break in the set for tech issues that's cut from the official. Looks Like Rain is as good as it gets - except for being mildly out of tune. Dire Wolf is fine but It's All Over Now is a top '78. The rest is average '78.

Second Set. It's a pretty mellow version of Deal, but things take off for the end jam of Samson. Estimated is thoroughly entertaining - maybe the best of '78? And that still doesn't prepare you for this Eyes. It's gobsmacking (though the 8th is best-of-year...or is it?). There are just so many great Eyes in '77/78. Phil stays out for awhile during a Drums>Space that foreshadows the '80s. This is another Wharf for Heads that don't like Wharf. Though arguably not 7/1, the tones they used in '78 and the little things Bobby does make these some of the best Wharfs ever. Truckin' is solid enough. A middling Iko Iko is in the bonus position. Jer starts in the key of E and, amusingly, on the SBD you can hear them asking Jer where the heck he's heading, and then calling a change to key of D. It's kingsnake '78 stylee, but the beat gets lost a couple times. There's not a lot of collusion on what this end of the show should be, but hey, at least Bobby gets some crucial slide practice. There are two Berries to end, but alas, the spell is broken.

1st Set:  B-
2nd Set: B
Overall = 4 stars

Highlights:
They Love Each Other - such a sa-weet TLEO
Looks Like Rain - almost as good as 2/3/78
It's All Over Now - top '78
Estimated Prophet - thoroughly entertaining
Eyes of the World - gobsmacking
Wharf Rat - for people who usually skip it

SOURCES: The fob_knight_motb-0070_91785 is still great, but the wagner_97299 is complete. The official is mostly complete.

Uhh, the satanic panic Franklin thing of the '80s was a hoax (like always, when the word "satanic" is used as revenue/click bait on the rubes). Jer muffs "gained", but not into "friends".

In Sugaree Jer sings, "You know in spite of all your friends, you still have to stand out in the pouring rain" It's creepy that arond this time Omaha children were being bought and sold in child sex trafficking rings, known as the Franklin cover up. There was a documentary made about it called, "Conspiracy of Silence!"

Performance is a very high energy '78, I agree with the highlights mentioned already with the addition that post-drums is better than many in this era. Keith plays well and the drummers are largely in sync, those being the most variable issues in this time frame.

Minor Deadhead note, this is an early outlier "L S D" sequence (Lazy Supplication Deal) which would become common a year or so later, but Deal is a set 2 opener (odd, right?) and Supplication the set 1 closer.

Recording is excellent for the era, very good overall. Could be a little fast as mentioned in another comment but if so I didn't find it too intrusive.

Tracking error is that the bass & drums segment starts in the last couple minutes of the Eyes track, and continues thru about 45 seconds of the track actually labeled "Bass And Drums" - then most of that track is just drums, as is the following track which is labeled "Drums." So the actual timing for "just drums, no Phil" is about 13 minutes.

This is a great show with one of the all-time great Estimated Prophets!

I like the sound on this better than the other circulating AUD, but this recording is too fast and requires pitch correction.

I really love Auds that make the bass sound this good. I still haven't come to terms with Weir's slide.

there r several universes in that one alone

the round soft kind not the honeycombs or yucca

Really good show from start to finish with barely an exception (the Iko was a little off). Great setlist, performance and excellent aud sound. Jerry's guitar sounds particularly good on Eyes. Well worth a listen.

This is a rocker!

Grate show and the sound is beautiful! VERY NICE.

I never used to enjoy AUDs but lately I have really been giving them a chance! I have found so many recordings that sound really good once your ears get adjusted. There are some shows that at are so good you have to listen to them, soundboard quality or not! This is one of them! The sound is fairly good for an AUD of this era. Nice full sound, thick bass, good instrument seperation, and a KILLER performance that will get you dancin'! This is one of those AUDs that makes you feel like your there! Check out the Estimated Prophet>Eyes>Drums>Space>Warf Rat>Truckin'>Iko Iko sandwich! I have read reviews that claim the Dead lost their energy in the Spring of '78 but this show will make you think otherwise. Maybe I'm not the best judge because the Dead can do no wrong for me in 1977-1979. I love the "late Keith era" sound. Some people call it "glossy" but I dig the clean instrument sounds. Garcia's Wolf was never in better form. Five stars for the performance and great sounding recording!